CPTC Awarded $2.5 Million Federal Grant for Mechatronics Program

September 29, 2014

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Clover Park Technical College will receive nearly $2.5 million in the latest round of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative.

The job-driven award of $2,499,973.00 will go toward CPTC’s Mechatronics Technician Program (launched Fall Quarter 2014) to develop a core pathway into advanced manufacturing and industrial technology careers that can branch off into specialized areas that align with current and future industry demand. The purpose is to create specialized certificates to fill projected employment gaps in high-demand careers. Target recipients include long-term unemployed, incumbent workers and military veterans.

“Being the largest technical college in the state of Washington, Clover Park is well-positioned to drive workforce and economic development. Our college is grateful to receive this grant award because it will help us to expand educational programs that will better meet the needs of business and industry and create real high-paying jobs for the citizens of South Puget Sound,” said Dr. Lonnie L. Howard, president of CPTC.

The project was developed with support from many organizations including WorkForce Central, Puget Sound Regional Council, Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound, Association of Washington Business Institute, Steve Brewer of The Boeing Company, John Straub of James Hardie Building Products, and Andries Breedt of Breedt Production Tooling & Design, LLC.

Community and technical colleges in Washington state will receive awards totaling nearly $12.5 million. The state’s awards are among $450 million in grants awarded to community colleges around the country in the final round of the four-year, nearly $2 billion TAACCCT initiative.

CPTC’s Mechatronics Technician Program is a combination of mechanical, electronics, computer and control engineering that can be applied in a wide variety of industries. For more information, visit www.cptc.edu/programs/mechatronics.

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In the Spotlight is the official blog for Clover Park Technical College, located just south of Tacoma in Lakewood, Washington. To learn more about the college, visit our main website at cptc.edu. Questions or concerns can be sent to webmaster@cptc.edu.